On August 20, 2024, a special commission in Maine is poised to release its final report on the tragic mass shooting that occurred in Lewiston on October 25, 2023. This event, which claimed 18 lives at a bowling alley and a bar and grill, stands as the deadliest shooting in Maine's history.
The commission, established by Governor Janet Mills, has conducted an extensive investigation over the past nine months. Their work included more than a dozen public meetings, testimonies from numerous witnesses, and the examination of thousands of pages of evidence. The report's release will take place at Lewiston City Hall, less than 5 kilometers from the shooting sites.
An interim report, published in March 2024, highlighted missed opportunities to prevent the tragedy. It suggested that law enforcement should have confiscated the shooter's firearms and placed him in protective custody weeks before the incident.
The shooter, Robert Card, a 40-year-old Army reservist, had exhibited concerning behavior in the months leading up to the attack. Fellow reservists and family members reported Card's delusional and paranoid behavior. In July 2023, he was hospitalized during Army training, but follow-up care was not adequately monitored.
The most alarming warning came in September 2023, when a fellow reservist texted an Army supervisor, expressing concern that Card might "snap and do a mass shooting." Tragically, this premonition came true a month later.
"The system failed, and we can't allow this to happen again."
The Army conducted its own investigation following the shooting. Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, then chief of the Army Reserves, acknowledged "a series of failures by unit leadership." As a result, three Army Reserve officers faced disciplinary action for dereliction of duty.
In response to the tragedy, Maine's legislature enacted new gun laws, including a three-day waiting period for firearm purchases, which took effect in early August 2024.
The seven-member commission, chaired by former Maine Supreme Court Chief Justice Daniel Wathen, includes former federal prosecutors, judges, a psychiatrist, and the state's former chief forensic psychologist. Their collective expertise aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the events leading to the shooting and recommendations for preventing future tragedies.
Lewiston, Maine's second-largest city with a population of about 36,000, has a rich history and diverse cultural heritage. Known for its significant Franco-American population, the city has been working to revitalize its economy in recent years. The tragedy has deeply affected this close-knit community, which has shown remarkable resilience in its aftermath.
As the commission prepares to present its findings, the hope is that the report will not only provide closure for the victims' families and survivors but also offer valuable insights to prevent similar incidents in the future. The release of this report marks a crucial step in Lewiston's healing process and the ongoing national conversation about gun violence prevention and mental health support.